Pelvic Congestive Syndrome

Pelvic congestive syndrome, also known as pelvic venous disease or PeVD, is a cause of chronic pelvic pain in women. With pelvic congestive syndrome, veins in the lower abdomen don’t function normally and cause blood to build up. Over time, this can cause veins in the pelvis to enlarge, similar to varicose veins in the legs, and can lead to significant pain that negatively affects their quality of life.

Because there are many potential causes of pelvic pain, pelvic congestive syndrome is often difficult to diagnose. The primary symptom is pelvic pain that lasts for more than six months. This pain typically worsens throughout the day and lessens when sleeping.

Other potential symptoms of pelvic congestive syndrome include:

• Pain during or after sex
• Bulging veins around the vagina, vulva, or the top of the thighs (varicose veins)
• Irritable bladder and/or bowel

This condition primarily impacts women who have had multiple pregnancies. Other potential risk factors include a family history of the condition, having a retroverted uterus, polycystic ovaries, and hormonal dysfunction.